ADM 12: Transition
Overview
Children experience transitions when moving between home, child care, and school-age programs, and from one age group or classroom to another each year. Transition plans are integral and must include written policies and procedures to support children and families during such periods. These plans are individualized to meet the unique transition needs of every child and family and follow a consistent process. Transition plans are especially important for children with special health care needs or disabilities, as they may involve other professionals or routines essential to their health and successful outcomes.
Requirement
Levels 4 and 5:
The school develops and implements transition plans for children, including individualized plans for children with disabilities and children with special health care needs, which include policies for sharing information on child assessment and developmental progress.
Documentation to upload:
- Statement describing transition plans that address: home to school; child care to school; within school; and school to school transitions, as well as policies for sharing information on child assessment and developmental progress
The requirements for levels 4 and 5 are the same. If you meet the requirements for level 4, you will be rated as a level 5 in ADM 12.
Build a Statement
Develop a statement describing the school’s policies and procedures regarding transition planning. The Reflection Questions below will help you consider what happens in the school to capture it when creating your statement. Upon reflection, you are ready to build your statement.
Reflection Questions
- What processes has the school established to help children transition from their homes to your program?
- What processes has the school established to help children transition from a child care setting to your program?
- What processes has the school established to help children transition between age groups within your school?
- What processes has the school established to help children transition from one school to another?
- How does the school individualize transition plans for children with disabilities and those with special health care needs?
- How is information about child assessment and developmental progress shared during the transition process?
After reflecting on the questions, you have the option to download and save the Transition Planning Statement to use as a template for creating your statement.
If you need more support writing a Transition Planning Statement, use the Writers Tips and Prompts link to find examples and for additional guidance.
Next Steps
- Review your Transition Planning Statement to ensure all requirements are met.
- Log into the Maryland EXCELS System to upload your Transition Planning Statement.
- Submit for review.
Additional Resources
- Making Transitions Work Explore this resource to gain tips for planning transitions for children that will help them thrive and gain lasting life skills.
- Promoting Successful Transitions to Kindergarten Visit this link to find tips to ease the transition to kindergarten for children, families, and you.
- Navigating the Transition to Kindergarten and School-Age Care This resource will provide guidance on managing the reactions of children during transitions that impacts their parents and caregivers.
